Game adjunct.



J. W. AMES.

GAME ADJUNGT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1014 1,105,478. PatentedJuly 28, 1914.

2 SHEETBBHEET 1.

J. W. AMES.

GAME ADJUNGT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23,1014.

1,1 05,478. Patented July 28, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"entrain snares JOHN W. AIVIES, OF EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY.

GAME ADJUNCT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 23. 1914.

Patented July 28, 1914. Serial No. 840,581.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN XV. Alums, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Iltuthertord, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Game Adjuncts, of which the following a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and proposes a device which is adjunctive to the games of pool or billiards and in the nature of a combination finger bij'ace, cue-rest and guide.

The prii'icipal objects of the invention are to provide a device of the character stated which will allow the cue to be etliciently manipulated at di'tlerent angles for the ditl'erent kinds of shots contemplated, and in such use while providing an etllcient e'uide will permit of absolute freedom of movement ot' the cue; which steadies the hand in any position of the cue; which enables the hand regardless of the angle at which the cue is held relatively to the cue ball to rest substantially flat upon the table; and which may be conveniently held in the hand by the player throughout the game and instantly and easily adjusted to any one of several playing positions in accordance with the angle at which the cue is to be held relatively to the cue ball in making the shot.

A :t'urthcn: object of the invention is to provide a device for the purposes stated which may be inexpensively manufactured, which is neat and inconspicuous in use, and which is absolutely free of the cue in connection with which it is used. The improved device, having the operative characteristics above stated, promotes skill and finesse in the execution of the game referred to, es pecially in cases where a player finds it dil ficult to acquire the knack of holding his one and limiting his stroke.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is an elevation of a combination finger brace, cue rest and guide in which the features of the invention are incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; and Figs. 0

4 and 5 are perspective views illustrating ditl'erent positions of the device for different shots, and difl'erent methods of holding the device in the hand in accordance with the position thcrco't' Similar characte s of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The device shown in the drawing is designed to be held by the left hand and assumes that the player, as usual, manipulates the cue with his right hand. For lefthanded players. '1'. 0., players who manipulate the one with their le'tt hands and guide the same with their right; hands, a construction the same as that shown in the drawing is used but the parts thereof will be rc-arranged in an obvious manner.

The device is preferably o't integral construction and may be made of wood or other suitable material. The said device includes what, for convenience, may be termed a base portion 1. which has a flat; table-engaging under face The principal position of the device is illustrated in Fig. 3, and in such position the device rests with its tlat face 2 upon the table. For convenience of description the location of the parts of the device shall be spoken of in relation to the principal position thereof shown in Fig. 3, and with this understanding; it will be understood that the base 1 and its tlat face 2 are horizontally disposed.

The device has a vertical depth of ap proximately an inch and a hall and includes a block 3 upright from the base 1 at one end thereof, specifically at the left end of the base when Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings are considered, and. a block 4; upright from the base at the other end thereof.

The block 3 is in the ltmgitudinal plane of the base but the bloc; -lis in a plane oblique to the longitiulinal plane of the base. To be more exact, the block -it has a front face 5 which co-planar with the front faces of the base 1 and the block 3 and a rear face (3 which extends at an angle to the rear face ot the base 1 and the block 3. The device is formed between the blocks 8 and 4t with a relatively wide finger groove 7 which extends in a slightly diagonal direction between the front and rear faces and which has its vertical walls defined by the adjoining confronting faces of the blocks 8 and 4.

The block 3 is coextensive in width with the base 1 and is formed with a finger opening 8 which extends between its front and rear faces and has its wall of uninterrupted annular outline. The opening 8 has a somewhat oblique extent and its axis is approximately parallel to the axis of the recess 7.

The block l when viewed from its rear face has a generally rectangular or oblong outline, as shown in Fi 1, but when viewed in plan has a generally triangular outline,

shown in Fig. 2, and by virtue of the obliquity of its rear face includes a portion, adjoining the groove 7, which projects rear wardly beyond the plane of the rear face of the block 3. The block & is formed with a relatively wide groove 9 which has a direction of extentnormal to its oblique rear face and, hence, has its converging forwardly toward the axis of the groove 7.

The diameter of the opening 8 conforms generally to the width of the groove 7 and the said opening 8 and groove 7 are essen t-ially for he reception of the fingers. The

groove 9 is a cue groove but in at least one position of the device, (Fig. 5), serves as a finger groove.

The device is completed by a relatively shallow horizontal groove 10 formed in the outer vertical face of the block 3 and servingpriinarily as a cue groove.

The drawings show, by way of example, three positions of the device, although other useful positions thereof will readily suggest themselves to the skilled player. The principal position of the device is illustrated in Fig. 3 and is the one which is adopted for the majority of shots wherein the cue is held at a relatively slight angle, or in some cases nearly parallel to the plane of the table. In

this position, (and which, as above stated, is the one contemplated in the preceding description), the little finger is held adjacent and preferably through a portion of its eX- tentwithin the groove 10, the third finger is'held within the opening 8, the middle finger is held within thegroove 7, the fore finger is extended forwardly and slightly bent, and the thumb is held adjacent the oblique rear face of the block 4. The tips f the little finger, the third finger, the middle finger and the thumb rest upon the table and the palm of the hand rests flat upon the table. The one rests in the groove 9 and is manipulated between the fore finger and the middle finger. The fore finger, which is bent or crooked over the middle finger, is supported upon the rearwardly projecting portion of the bl k 41:, the said rearwardly projecting portion having its upper surface beveled olf as at 11 to easily conform to the outline of the palm of the hand adjacent the base of. the fore finger.

In the positions shown in Figs. l: and 5, and especially in the latter position, the device may be used in lieu of a bridge. In the position shown in Fig. a. the device is set on end in an inclined plane and the generally flat oblique face 6 of the block l rests upon the table while the cue rests in the groove 10 which, in such position, serves as a support and guide for said cue. In this position of the device the little and third fingers rest upon the table at the left side of the block 4i, the middle finger is inserted through the groove 7 and is used to grip the device, the fore finger and thumb rest upon the table at the right of the block i, and the said block projects against and is steadied and held in position by the pressure of the palm of the hand. Fig. 5 shows a third position of the device wherein it is held perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the table. In this case the vertical edge of the block 4 at the right end of the device, (Fig. 1 being considered), rests upon the table, the third and little fingers are held upon the table at the left side of the block 4, the middle finger is held in the groove 9, the fore finger is inserted through the opening 8, the thumb is held upon the table at the right side of the block 4 and the one is manipulated with reference to the groove 10 as a guide but across the front edge of said groove. In the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 that face of the device which in. the position of Fig. 3 was termed the rear face is presented forwardly and the flat forward face of the device is presented rearwardly and adjacent the palm of the hand.

For the break in the game of pool, the device is positioned on the table ledge, as

"in Fig. 3, but the palm of the hand is held "upon the block 3 and the four fingers project forwardly from this block and rest over and upon the inner table ledge while the thumb is inserted through the groove 7 The groove 9 in the block 4t in such case constitutes the only guide for the cue.

Having fully described my invention, I claim 1. A device of the character set forth having a base provided with a flat. engaging face and two blocks upright from the base and located at opposite ends thereof, one block being arranged in the longitudinal plane of the base and having an opening therein extending between its front and rear faces, the device having a relatively wide and deep groove intermediate said blocks and extending between its front and rear faces on an axis generally parallel; to the axis of the opening, the other block having a relatively wide and deep groove which ex tends between its front and rear faces and has its axis converging forwardly toward the axis of said first-named groove.

2. A device of the character set forth having a base provided with a Hat engaging face and. two blocks upriglit from the base and located at opposite ends thereof, one block being arranged in the longitudinal plane of the base and having an opening therein extending between its front and rear faces, the device having a relatively wide and deep groove intermediate said blocks and extending between its front and rear faces on an axis generally parallel to the axis of the o iening, the other block having a relatively wide and deep groove which ex tends between its front and rear faces and has its axis converging forwardly toward the axis of said first-nan'ied groove, said last-named block also having its front face coplanar with the front faces of the base and of said first-named block and having its rear face oblique and converging foiwvardly and outwardly to its front face.

3. A device of the character set forth having a base provided with a flat engaging face and two blocks upright from the base. and

located at opposite ends thereof, one block being arranged in the longitudinal plane of the base and having an opening therein extending between its front and rear faces, the said opening having an uninterrupted annular wall, the device having a relatively wide and deep groove intermediate said blocks and extending between its front and rear faces on an axis generally parallel to the axis of the opening the other block having a relatively wide and deep groove which extends between its front and rear faces and has its axis converging forwardly toward the axis of said first-named groove.

-l. A (lei ice of the character set forth having a base provided with a Hat engaging face and two blocks upright from the base and located at opposite ends thereof, one block being arranged in the longitudinal plane of the base and having an opening therein between its front and rear faces, and a relatively shallow groove in its outer end face also extending between its front and rear faces, the device having a relatively wide and deep groove intermediate said blocks and extending between its front and rear faces on an axis generally parallel to the axis of the opening, the other block having a relatively wide and deep groove which extends between its front and rear faces and has its axis converging forwardly toward the axis of said first-named relatively wide and deep groove.

5. A device of the character set forth having a base provided with a flat engaging face and two blocks U n-ight from the base and located at opposite ends thereof, one block being arranged in the longitudinal plane of the base and having an opening therein between its front and rear faces, and a. relatively shallow groove in its outer end face also extending between its front and rear faces, the said opening having an uninterrupted annular wall, the device having a relatively wide and deep groove intermediate said blocks and extending between its front and rear faces on an axis generally parallel. to the axis of the opening, the other block having a relatively wide andv deep groove which extends between its front and rear faces and has its axis converging forwardly toward the axis of said first-named relatively wide and deep groove.

6. A device of the character set forth having a base provided with a flat engaging face and two blocks upright from the base and located at opposite ends thereof, one block being arranged in the longitudinal plane of the base and. having an opening therein between its front and rear face and a relatively shallow groove in its outer end face also extelnling between its front and rear faces, the said opening having an uninterrupted annular wall, the device having a relatively wide and deep groove intermediate said blocks and extending between its front and rear faces on an axis generally parallel to the axis of the opening, the other block having a relatively wide and deep groove which extends between its front and rear fares and has its axis converging forwardly toward tl i axis of said first-named relatively wide and deep groove, said lastnamed block also having its front face coplanar with the front faces of the base and of said lirst-na1ned block and having its rear face oblique and conver, ing forwardly and outwardly to said front face.

7. A device of the character set forth ha ving a base provided with a flat engaging face and two blocks upright from the base and located at opposite ends thereof one block being arranged in the longitudinal plane of the base and having its outer end face provided with a relatively shallow groove extending between its front and rear faces, the device having a relatively wide and. deep groove intermediate said blocks and extending between its front and rear faces, the other block having its front face co-planar with the front faces of the base and of said first-nanied block and having its rear face oblique and converging forwardly and outwardly to its front face and having also a relatively wide and deep groove extending between its front and rear faces on an axis which converges forwardly toward the axis of said first-named relatively wide and deep groove,

8. A device of the character set forth having a flat engaging face, an opening adj aeent one end thereof extending between its front and rear faces, a relatively shallow groove in its end, face nearest said opening and also extending between its front and rear faces and a relatively wide and deep groove adjacent its other end and extending obliquely between its front and rear faces on an axis which converges forwardly t0- Ward the axis of said opening.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN V. AMES. lVitnesses ALEX. G. CATTERMOLE, JOHN CHARMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

